Sheet metal awning



May 1, 1934.. E. BISHOP El AL.

SHEET METAL AWNING Filed April 15, 1932 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented May 1, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC Application April 13, 1932, Serial No. 604,989

3 Claims. (Cl. 156-15) This invention relates to the structural design of metal awnings.

Metal awnings present many notable advantages over the canvas or cloth type of awning. The former are fire proof against burning cigarettes or the like, dropped accidentally on the awning from above, are substantially permanent and may therefore be incorporated as a substantially integral portion of a wall structure, and at the same time may be finished in a variety of colors and polished surfaces not obtainable with a cloth awning. Also this type of awning is far more stable in a storm and may be subjected to severe weather conditions. The production of such an awning from light gage sheet metal, however, has in the past necessitated the use of an auxiliary superstructure or numerous reinforcing members to hold the awning rigid and prevent the same from rumbling and pounding in the wind. It is therefore an object of our invention to provide a sheet metal awning which may be constructed from light gauge material and at the same time have ample rigidity to not only support its own weight over a long span without sagging, but also rigidly withstand wind pressure as well as sudden variations and changes in the direction thereof.

Another object of our invention is to provide an awning of the character described wherein the seams therefor are arranged not only as a means for connecting various sections of the awning together but also to provide stiifening ribs for rigidly supporting the awning.

Still another object is to provide an awning of the character described which may be either fixedly secured over a window or the like with the awning integrally formed with the wall structure, or constructed as a complete self-contained unit for attachment to said structure.

A further object of our invention is to provide an awning of the character described which is simple, inexpensive and compact in construction, and may readily be removed from the structure for complete inspection and repair.

A still further object of our invention is to provide an awning of the character described that is formed of a plurality of similar joined sections whereby a change in the size of the awning may readily be effected by the removal or addition of one or a number of said sections.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide in an awning of the character described certain other features of mechanical utility which at the same time give to the structure strength and rigidity as well as serve to enhance its appearance.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantages, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my awning in operative position over a window.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 2'-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views of the seam and edge construction of the awning taken substantially on the plane of lines 33, 44, and 66 of Figure 1 and the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figures 7 and 8 are sectional views of two slightly modified forms of construction of a portion of the awning and the mounting means therefor.

As illustrated in the drawing, our invention comprises a sheet metal awning 11 which is arranged to be aflixed to a wall 12 and extend outwardly therefrom so as to form a shade such as for a window 13 of said wall. While the awning is here shown as supported on a wall and operable to shade a window, it will be obvious that when otherwise supported and positioned, the awning is adaptable for other purposes.

Preferably, and as here shown, the awning forms an enclosure comprising a downward and outwardly sloping front sheet portion 14, a pair of right-triangular shaped end members 16 secured to and extended at substantially right angles from the side edges of the portion 14, and a skirt 17 secured to and depending from the lower edge of said front and end portions. While the portion 14 may be, if desired, formed of a single strip of sheet metal, we have found that a simpler and a more readily adaptable structure is attained by making this portion from a plurality of sections or panels 18 and 19. Preferably these sections are of similar construction and arranged for interconnection whereby an awning of any desired length may be readily formed by merely joining a proper number of these sections together.

It is generally necessary to use several stiffening ribs in order to obtain the requisite rigidity of the awning, and it is a particularly important feature of our invention to form such ribs directly with the portions of sheet metal comprising the various sections of the awning as aforementioned, and in this way simplify and at the same time cheapen the construction of the awning. This feature ishere made possible by utilizing several seams not only to connect the various sections of the awning together but also for the formation of these stiffening ribs. With reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that the panels 18 and 19 have abutting side edge portions 21 and 22 and that connection between the panels is effected by outwardly flanging the portion 21 and folding an extended portion of the edge 22 tightly around the flanged portion 21. As may be particularly noted, however, the flange and fold are extended at substantially right angles from the plane of the panels instead of lying parallel and adjacent thereto as is commonly the case, and are extended from the plane of the panels a very substantial distance beyond a length necessary for effecting merely a strong connection. This materially extended portion provides a stiff reinforcement rib for the center front portion of the awning. As a mere connecting seam is entirely too shallow and indequate to be of any material aid as a stiffener, it is an important feature of our invention to provide a seam as here shown that will not only provide a strong connection but also ample rigidity, and with the stiffening means incorporated as part of the connection means, it will be clear that an extra stiffening means is not required.

Likewise the securing of the end members to the outer side edges of the sections at substantially right angles to the plane of these sections acts to materially stiffen the side edges of the awning. These end members are as aforesaid right-triangular in shape and are joined along their long or hypotenuse side to the front edges of the awning. This arrangement accordingly disposes the two other edges 28 and 29 of the end member substantially horizontally and vertically.

The skirt 17, aforementioned, is secured to and extends completely around the lower edge of the awning. As shown in Figures 4 and 5 the upper portion of the skirt is formed with an outwardly projecting fold 31 with the end portion of the material extended downwardly from the base of the fold and thence looped up to form a U- shaped hook portion 33. Connection is readily afforded between the skirt and the front and side portions of the awning by simply extending the lower edgesof these portions into the hook portion 33 provided on the skirt and tightly crimping the hook and edge portions together. The outwardly projected fold 31 as may be noted extends completely around the ends and front of the awning and serves not only to strengthen the awning but'also serves as a gutter for gathering rain falling on the awning. Preferably a pair of drain conduits 34 extend from the gutter adjacent the ends thereof for discharging the water.

To secure a rigid mounting on the awning a U-shaped rectangular steel bar 36 is preferably secured to the upper edge 37 of the front portion and the forward vertically disposed edges 29 on the end members 16. An effective connection may be obtained as shown in Figure 6 by simply extending the edge portions of the awning around the bar. As the edges 37 and 29 are disposed in a common plane parallel to and immediately adjacent the wall, the awning may be readily aflixed to the wall in any manner suitable to the job. While in the present embodiment lag bolts 35 are used for this purpose, other means may be used.

In instances where a removable mounting is desired, a slight variation in design is suggested. The change is here illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 where the top edge 37 is looped around a circular rod 38 thereby forming for the awning a strong beaded upper edge 39. The mounting means shown in Figure '7 comprises a pair of strips 41 and 42 riveted to and on either side of the awning surface 37 adjacent the beaded edge 39. The outer strip 42 is extended around the top of the edge 39 and downwardly in a vertical plane parallel to the wall. The inner strip 41 is extended upwardly to the under side of the bead 39 and then folded back and extended downward against the strip 42. These strips are inserted in and removably carried by a bracket 43 .securely mounted to the wall. The mounting, as illustrated in Figure 8, comprises a bracket 44 having formed at one end thereof a socket portion 46 arranged to fit over and around the beaded edge 39. To effect a tight and waterproof mounting of the awning against the side wall, a resilient weather strip 47 may be used as here shown between the edge 39 and the side wall.

We claim:

1. In an awning arranged for mounting on a side wall, a stiffener bar having a straight center portion and a pair of leg portions right angularly extending from the opposite ends of the center portion, a panel of sheet metal secured to said center bar portion and angularly disposed 110 with respect to said leg portions, a pair of side panels secured to said leg portions and extended therefrom in alignment with and connected to the opposite side edges of said first panel.

2. In an awning arranged for mounting on a 115 side wall, a stiffener bar having a straight center portion and a pair of leg portions right angularly extending from the opposite ends of the center portion, a panel of sheet metal secured to said center bar portion and angularly disposed 128 with respect to said leg portions, a pair of side panels secured to said leg portions and extended therefrom in alignment with and connected to the opposite side edges of said first panel, and means for mounting said awning to said wall compris- 1 ing a member fixed to and depending from said center bar portion, and a bracket fixed to said wall and slidably releasably receiving said memher.

3. In an awning arranged for mounting on a side wall, a stiffener bar having a straight center portion and a pair of leg portions right angularly extending from the opposite ends of the center portion, a panel of sheet metal secured to said center bar portion and angularly disposed with respect to said leg portions, a pair of side panels secured to said leg portions and extended therefrom in alignment with and connected to the opposite side edges of said first panel, and means for mounting said awning to said wall comprising a member secured to said first panel and extending over and depending from said center bar portion in the plane of said leg portions, and a bracket secured to said wall and slidably releasably engaging and supporting said member.

EDWARD BISHOP. WILLIAM F. MILLER. 

